Customer Reviews

Aruba: The Tragic Untold Story of Natalee Holloway and Corruption in Paradise

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

I have read a lot of true crime books, but this one was so riveting I couldn't put it down. I loved the way the book takes the reader through the entire ordeal while leaving the door open for us to decide for ourselves what actually happened. After all, we really don't know for sure, do we?

The Shango riddle is incredible and shows that someone on the inside wanted to let us know what happened, but they were too afraid or too closely involved to come forward.

Dave Holloway's passion comes through clearly, thanks to his co-authors who must have spent months listening to his heartfelt frustrations while he was trying desperately to find his daughter. His account of the difficulties faced when attempting to work with the Aruban authorities leaves the reader hating the police while feeling a bit sorry for the native Aruban. How tragic that the authorities didn't let the family know until the last minute that their hands were tied due to their overseers, the Hague. One would think that between the Aruban and Dutch authorities working on the case, they would be able to deal with the crime of a missing person without having to defer to an even higher authority. What a bunch of baloney to hand the family so late in the game!

Clearly written, to the point, very articulate and passionate. Quick read, yet thought-provoking and somewhat stunning. I learned things I never saw on the news. The only thing left to be answered is "Who done it?" I'd suggest this book to anyone who loves true crime. It made the New York Times Best Seller list for a reason...it's a truly great book!

I followed the story of Natalee Holloway through the media and several websites so I approached this book with what I thought was a good amount of knowledge on the case. Absent of all the hype and emotion that surrounds the disappearance of Natalee Holloway on her senior trip to Aruba, her father, Dave Holloway, presents his story like the insurance investigator he is. With factual reference, this book flowed easily from start to finish as it outlined the details of his, former wife Beth Twitty, friends and familiy members who joined him in Aruba during the search immediately after her disappearance and in the months following. I appreciated his narration for it's focus on events as they unfolded absent the hysteria. Dave details events as they were presented to him from the moment he learned his daughter was missing, through learning the boy she was last seen with had a father with high official connections and beyond the immediate. He provides specifics, names, dates and unfolds a timeline that, sadly, reveals the ineptness and corruptness of an island political hierarchy seemingly more concerned with their tourist image than finding this missing girl. Recommended to those readers of crime, corruption, family drama, or looking for something interesting and new. Based on true events. Also made for television movie available.

This book is well written, and touched my heart so. I think that all parents should read it, my heart goes out to Dave and Robin, and also Beth and Jug, for what they have had to endure in their search for their daughter. I would like to hope that if this ever happened to one of my kids, that I would have the strength and determination that they all have had to not give up on my search, no matter how long it takes. Dave, the world and God is behind you.

This book is unforgettable...as is Natalee Holloway herself. Having recently returned from a week in Aruba, my soul reached out for more information on what happened in Aruba over one year ago when Natalee was there. During the trip, the conversation turned to her disappearance daily. The Aruban people for the most part were caring and I was touched by their reference to Joran as 'the dutch boy'. No love there. I saw the California lighthouse, the beach where they were digging for possible evidence, the pond, the landfill, Carlos & Charlies. I had a strong feeling that Natalee is still alive. I left Aruba knowing that she is still linked to that island. Her father's book is heartwrenching, touching, honest, and totally focused on the 'truth'. He makes no real accusations and no assumptions. He just doesn't know and he describes the search and the daily questioning within himself of where could his daughter be? He doesn't place blame on her classmates, on anyone but he does point out the inconsistencies, the lies, and the faulty processes and conclusions involved in this case. I didn't' realize the scope of facts behind the boycott against Aruba until I read this book. To be honest, I thought the boycott was an emotional response to their loss, but now I realize the boycott is an honest method to denounce the way the disappearance of their daughter was mishandled by the legal system in that country. God bless America and God help Aruba. The people themselves are not bad, but their system of justice is very wrong. As much as I love Aruban itself, the land and the native people, I will not return until Aruba makes a legitimate effort to prove it has sincerely tried to find Natalee and even better than that, until it returns Natalee or gives us someone who can answer all of her father's questions. Read the book, its the ultimate height of honesty from a wounded father's heart. He is right, Natalee is 'everybody's daughter, sister, or female relative.' She is the symbol of the need for safety and justice for our women in the world. God help us all if our women and children cannot live safely in this world protected by a system of international laws.

Beautifully written reflection of a tough time. This loving book allows the reader to see Natalee as she was right up to the day she left for the anticipated graduation trip to Aruba. It then allows us to witness the heartbreaking events that have puzzled many and deceived many more. This family's ability to survive the tragic events is shown in the book to be due to their faith in God, the support of the friends that they had before Natalee was taken from them, the support of millions of people around the world whose hearts were touched by Natalee's story, and by Internet friends who have bonded through chat rooms, discussion forums, and prayer chains. Even if you were not intrigued by this ongoing story before, just read the first paragraph, and you, too, will find yourself praying nightly "God, please bless Natalee, her friends, and family and let this be the day she is discovered and Justice is served. Amen."

When I received this book, I started reading and couldn't put it down until I finished it. Definitely a must read. You can't help but share this family's frustrations and sorrow with what they have been put through. It's heartbreaking. It's always been about Natalee. All they want is to find answers and their daughter!

This is for cheriwave and for anyone who has followed this case as close as I did, they will know why there are posters on here for Arubas side. They tend to come into every Holloway forum there is to get their 2 cents in. Its horrible how they not only took the only Natalee that her mom and dad had, now they try to make it look like its their faults also. Aruba the "book" is right on as far as how it all went down from 2005 till now 2007, and Shango is not silly! He was an actual person getting info out to the USA to try to help. Mafia run aruba is trying to cover for their tourism, and the sooner the public understands that the better. Aruba lovers need to go and buy Joran Van der Sloots book, and read some lies that he is making up in order to make money from tragedy. Dave, Stephanie, and Larry are the most down to earth and loving people you will ever meet, AWSOME book to the 3 of you!! I personally have 2 copies, and they go where ever I do, I get the word out to people who don't follow the story. I have so much more to say on this subject, but lets just say, this cover-up is coming to an end, so watch out suspects, you'r justice will be served. The BIG man knows how, and who, and one day you will pay for what you have done.

I enjoyed this book and appreciate Mr. Halloway's sharing his story, but it is tragic and I no longer want to travel away...the laws in other countries are scary...to not know what happened to your child is an internal hell forever. My prayers are with the family of Natalie...

This book told me more about the case than I ever heard from the news or television. I cried from page one of a father's story of hunting his missing daughter and thought of my own daughter that age and the one that is a little older. I can't imagine the Hell this family has been through and hope I never have to. I would never want to visit out of the country before checking out the things going on in that country and how their law governs after all of this. We need the USA to step up and better watch out for there US citizens and make a warning of danger for all American's to go to Aruba before these problems are cleared up so we can be safe in a foreign country. Buy the book, it will be one you will never regret buying! It's one of the best books I have read in a long time!

This book will tug at your emotions and take you from outrage to tears. If you've been a casual viewer of the news coverage around Natalee Holloway's disappearance, you have only the preface to a travisty. The more serious follower of the case will learn that there's far more to the story than what has been reported. Dave Holloway's humble character permeates each page and perhaps for the first time, the reader meets Natalee. I finished the book with a deep appreciation for living in a country where crime and corruption unfortunatly exist, but no one is above the values we hold dear, not even our President. This should be required reading for anyone considering travel to Aruba, and a guide for alternate plans. Substantial proceeds from the book go for a fund to help find missing persons abroad. A real page turner, and a tragic reality.